Locals Compete at 2015 Indiana Special Olympics Summer Games
Posted
Staff Report-
TERRE HAUTE – Over 2,500 athletes recently participated in the 46th Indiana Special Olympics Summer Games. The annual State Games June 12 to 14 drew teams from throughout the state along with 1,100 coaches and chaperones, 1,200 event volunteers and 3,000 spectators and families, according to information from Special Olympics of Kosciusko County. Games included aquatics, bocce, bowling, cycling, horseshoes, power lifting, track and field and volleyball at Indiana State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and other host sites. In addition to three days of competition, there were Olympic-style ceremonies, the Torch Run, an Olympic Tent Town and a Health Festival. The opening ceremonies June 12 filled more than half of the Hulman Center Field House on the ISU campus with athletes, coaches, families, volunteers and guests, the release states. The athletes wearing colorful T-shirts matching their county regions were enthusiastic while entering the arena with music playing, greeted by Special Olympics officials, ISU athletes and cheerleaders and law enforcement. Rich Weibur’s Bicycle Stunt Show and Champions Forever, a unicycle group from South Dakota, performed for the crowd. According to Becky Walls, director for Kosciusko Special Olympics, 35 county athletes participated in the games this year along with 19 volunteers and coaches. Walls expressed thanks to all the coaches and volunteers for their hard work and dedication. Joe Baranowski, veteran Bocce coach, said the weather was hot but the athletes kept their cool, winning a number of medals. Local Results are below. Bowling (Various Divisions) Tony Thompson: 1st Ruby French/ Mary Kay Bess: 3rd Sandy Bibler/ Robert Svinarich: 3rd Jim Nuell / Barb Mikesell: 4th Bocce (Various Divisions) Unified Partner Doubles John Bonitati / James Mornout: 1st Ken McPeak / Scott Frush: 3rd Traditional Teams Norman McPeak/Wayne Momeyer/Jerry Davis/Kevin McPeak: 1st James Mornout/Scott Frush/Josie Wood/John Gullett: 2nd Martha Sullivan/Kathy Kumfer/Liz Wabol/Gale Vanator: 3rd Marshall Werner/Ron Taylor/Crystal Redman/John Lane: 4th Traditional Doubles Jerry Davis/Kevin McPeak: 2nd Norman McPeak/Wayne Momeyer: 3rd Crystal Redman/John Lane: 4th Ron Taylor/Marshall Werner: 4th Martha Sullivan/Kathy Kumfer: 4th Track (Various Divisions) 400m Walk Michelle Brubaker: 6th Running Long Jump Anthony Degaetano: 8th 50m Unassisted Walk Betsy Everett: 1st 4 X 100 Relay Amy Philson, Matt Bammel, Antonio Drummond , Anthony Degaetano: 6th 10m Walk Terri Garrard: 2nd 10m Wheel Chair Shannon Middaugh: 1st 25m Walk Betsy Everett: 1st Terri Garrard: 2nd 25m Wheel Chair Shannon Middaugh: 1st 50m Dash Sandy Hunter : 2nd Lori Kiefer: 3rd Joe Bradley: 3rd Soft Ball Throw Betsy Everett: 1st Sandy Hunter: 3rd Lori Kiefer: 3rd Joe Bradley: 3rd Terri Garrard: 3rd Shannon Middaugh: 4th Michelle Brubaker: 6th 100m Dash Anthony Degaetano: 2nd Matt Bammel: 3rd Antonio Drummond: 4th Amy Philson: 6th Mini Javelin Amy Philson: 1st Antonio Drummond: 5th Matt Bammel: 7th Standing Long Jump Sandy Hunter : 1st Joe Bradley: 2nd Lori Kiefer: 6th Flag football and corn toss will start in July for Special Olympics in Kosciusko County. Special Olympics Indiana has programs that serve more than 11,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities. On average, there are eight Special Olympics events going on somewhere in Indiana every day, made possible by a network of nearly 10,000 volunteers, according to Kosciusko Special Olympics.
